Antiskid chain



J. SEN FT ANTISKID CHAIN Oct. 18, 1932.

Filed May 14. 1951 WNVENTOR spectively, but showing a Patented Oct, 18,1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN SENFT, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR, ."BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE MGKAY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYL'V'ANIA.

Application med my 14,

-My invention relates to anti-skid devices and particularly to tirechains for use on automobiles and the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a tire chain or chainlink of such form that the wearing life thereof is considerablyincreased without materially increasing the thickness of the links indirections perpendicular to the plane thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved means forpreventing slipping or skidding of a wheel to which the chain isattached, and to increase the tractive quality thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide chain links having calkssecured to the sides thereof in a manner that will minimize danger ofthe calks breaking loose from the links.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a calk link ofgenerally simplified and improved form.

Some of the forms which my invention may take are shown in theaccompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a plan view or face view of aportion of a chain embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a, side elevationalview of a portion of the structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an endelevational view of one of the links of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale; Fis. 4, 5 and 6 are views corresponding to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, re-

modified form of link.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I indicate portions of side chainsby the numerals 8, which chains may be of any well-known form such asare commonly employed for maintaining the tread chains or cross chainsin proper position on the wheel.

It will be understood that as many cross chains as may be required areprovided, only one of such cross chains bei shown on the drawing. Onlythose links of the cross chains which ordinarily engage the roadwayduring normal conditions of operation need be provided with calks. Inthe present case,three such links are shown designated by the numerals9, 10 and 11.

The links 9, 10 and 11 are provided with calks 12, 13 and 14,respectively, each link ANTISKIID CHAIN 1931. Serial No. 537,270.

The calks 12, 13 and 14 are in the formvof studs and when electrilinks,will be slightly short metal bars or cally welded to the dished throughwelding pressure and softening of the metal when heated to weldingtemperature, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. Ther'e is thus produced aninterlocking or shouldered eifect between the calks and the link atpoints intermediate the ends of the calks, so that greater resistance isofi'ered to the breaking away of the calk from the link when thrusts areimposed upon the calks especially thrusts in an endwise direction. Thisresistance to breaking loose of the calks is, of course, much greaterthan if a mere spot weld were formed without substantial deformation ofthe metal at the points of engagement between the calks and the linkduring the welding operation.

Pressure is, of course, during the time that welding current is beingpassed through the calk and the link, and while the metal is soft. Themetal of the link will also likewise be deformed somewhat during suchpressure- The increased width or area of metal adjacent to the points atwhich the link ordinarily comes in contact with the roadway, namely, theprotruberant bends, increases the life of the chain, and the thicknessof the link at such point is not so great as if the calks wereweldedagainst the outer faces thereof instead of against the sides ofthe link. There is therefore less tendency to-injure the tire, andsmoother riding is also secured.

Furthermore, the position of the studs is such that they not only resistskidding, but they provide increased traction. During rotation of thewheel to which the chain is applied, the calks will be brought intocontact with the roadway, before the body ortions of the links, and byreason of their bar-like applied to the calks character, their ends willgrip the roadway and offer greater resistance to skidding and slippingthan if they were placed in approximate arallelism with the plane of thelinks. 5 Re erring now to Figs. 4, 5 and '6, I show a structure that issimilar to the structure of the other figures, but wherein the calks 16are of shorter length than the calks 12, 13 and 14. The calks 16 beingshorter than the calks of the other figures, will, of course, not lastso long as do the other calks, but they afford substantially the sameresistance to skidding and slipping. With the shorter calks there is, ofcourse, smoother ridin I Even after the calks of the various %guresbecome worn down somewhat, they arestill effective to relieve the linksof wear and to resist skidding and slippin because they are placedagainst the sides 0 the links instead of on the outer faces thereof, andwill engage the roadway each time that the cross chain is carriedinto-position between the wheel and the roadway.

I claim as my invention 25 p 1. An anti-skid chain containinginter-connected links bent adjacent to their ends to permit them to liein substantially a common normal plane, and bar-like calks secured.

to the sides of said bends at points removed from the faces thereof, thesaid calks extending in directions generally perpendicular to the planeof the links, but the calks at one side of the chain being inclined indirections opposite to those at the other side thereof.

cured to opposite sides thereof at points re moved from the face of thelink, the calks extending in directions generally perpendicular to thenormal plane of the link, but being .4 inclined in opposite directions.

3. A chain link having bar-like calks secured to opposite sides thereofat points removed from the face of the link, the calks extending indirections generally perpendicular to the normal plane of the link, but

being inclined in directions toward one another.

4. An anti-skid chain containing interconnected links bent adjacent totheir ends to permit them to lie in substantially a common beinginclined in directions transversely of 2. A chain link having bar-likecalks senormal plane, and bar-like calks secured to y the sides of saidbends at points removed from the faces thereof, the said calks extendingin directions generally perpendicular to the plane of the links and topoints beyond the road-engaging surfaces of the links, but beinginclined in directions transversely of the link.

5. A chain link having its ends twisted to approximately relative toeach other, calks secured to the sides of the protuberances formed bysaid bends, the said calks extending in directions generally perpen- 05dicular to the normal plane of the link but

